The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-10
The knights of Honor, as Factors In
Civilization Plans
and Methods.

The aim of true craftsmanship ana
civilization, is to secure the happiness
of the people. Nothing contributes so
much to that end as the certainty that
our dependent family, after our death,
will be beyond actual want. 1t has been
q problem heretofore, how to secure such
competency, and this has been true
especially with that class who are una
BILE, by reason of their restricted income,
to accumulate sufficient to make safe
provision for their families. This prob
lem has been solved by the Knights OF
Honor. Every moral citizen who Is In
good health may enter the order, and
no matter how limited his resources,
NAV provide from one to two thou
sand dollars for his family in case OF his
death.
The Knights of Honor is strictly a
fraternal order, and not a Life lnsur-
ance Company or Association. Their
methods differ from old line Life lnsur-
ance as well as from so-called Assess
ment Companies Uniting in its plans
and system all the features of such or
ders as the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights
of Pythias and the like, 1t has added
protective feature of two or one thou
sand dollar benefit, which is paid on the
death of every member in good standing,
to such members of his family or depen-
dent, as he may have designated by
name, according to the laws of the order.
While it is a secret society, the secret
part only consists of some pass word
and signs, to enable them TO guard
against imposters.
No oath is administered to initiates;
only promise upon honor is exaeted to
| live the life of good citizen. Neither
| is il a religious or political society both
subjects are carefully kept out OF the
lodge room. JEW or GENTLE, CArHo-
Lie or PROTESTANT are alike respected
and made welcome. The most devout
| churchman will find nothing 10 Its com
position to offend the strictest loyalty to
| his creed; it is also patterned alter our
own democratic Institutions; every
member has a voice in its management,
and is eligible to every othce. Every
member is compelled to belong to some
subordinate lodge, and while his pres
ence at its meetings Is desirable and
most beneficial TO himself and to the or
der. vet no law exists 20 compel him to
attend. Each lodge is entitled to repre-
| sentation in the Grand Lodge of its
State. and each Grand Lodge has from
two to more Representatives In the gu
preme Lodge.
In short, the representatives OF the
subordinate lodge from from the Grand
Lodge, and the represent tatlyes OF the
Grand Lodge constitute the Supreme
lTodge. These various bodies make
the laws of the order and shape It's
nolicv: the machinery is so nicely
| adjusted that the voice of every
member, through its representative, Is
notent in shaping wholesome and just
legislation.
There is no preferred class, no close
Board of Directors, nor any ehance ioI
speculation or rascality; the ofhcers OF
the various lodges, subordinate, Grand
or Supreme, are but the instruments to
do the will of the members, their duties
are clearly defined and their powers, So
called, strictly limited.
No money can be expended except Its
pyament is voted by majority OF The
members, and in the Supreme Lodge. as
we'll as the Grand Lodges, it must flrst
| have been authorized by vote OF these
bodies. and each item must receive the
sanction of the Finance Committee
The Supreme Treasurer is under heavy
bonds. The money of the order must
. be, and is deposited to the credit OF the
Supreme Lodgei in solvent banks, and car
only be drawn on the joint order of the
Supreme Reporter and Treasurer, ane
the bank is required to make daily re
ports of receipts and disbursements tt
| the Supreme Dictator, who is the presi
dent of the order. The Finance Com
mittee has the right at any time to ex-
anime the books, and is compelled to dc
, , so at stated periods Whenever call
ia made upon members to contribute tt
, the widow and orphans fund, as Will bt
: explained hereafter, full statement u
: made how the money heretofore col
: lected has been expended, and this i
sent to every lodge and read out IN oper
session. The money to pay death bene
| fits is contributed by the members to tn
lSupreme Lodge. A contribution OF
y fraction over a cent raises fund iarg
, enough to pay benefit OF two tnousans
? dollars: but these assessments are mad'
lin installments of one or two dollars
A time. in order to save expense, and al
. assessment of two dollars upon eaci
/, member realizes enough to pay the dealt
!, benefit to 140 deceased members. VIVA
lable-bodied man is there In the lam
who is not able, by payment OF iron
one II two dollars q month, to secure +
: his family from one to two tnousan
! doIlars7 The death benefits are paid :
4 those entitled, in from fifteen to tnirt
J days after the death Is reported TO tn
ISupreme Lodge